St. Paul daily globe., 1887-04-28
STRAY SUNBEAMS.


In these days when there is such craze
for celebrating anniversaries, it is little
singular that it has never occurred to any
body to celebrate the anniversary of the bat
tie of San Jacinto. the 5lst anniversary Of
which occurred last Thursday. Although it is
wellnigh forgotten the battle of San Jacinto
was the most eventful ever fought on Ameri-
can SOIL
-
The victory gained on the banks of the San
Jacinto on the 2lst day Of April, 1886, re-
suited in the annexation of Texas and q war
with Mexico, the consequence of which was
the acquisition OF New Mexico California,
Utah, Nevada, Colorado and Wyoming. The
result of the victory. the map OF the Union
changed and with it the commerce Of the
world.
-
In the magnitude of its results the battle of
history of the world. 1t resulted in the
extension of the boundary of the United
States to the Pacific ocean and the ac-
qusition of the greatest gold and
silver fields in the world. In addition to that
we secured ports on the Pacific coast invalu-
able to defense and commerce with China,
Japan and the East Indies and secured the
means of railway connection over our own
ground from ocean to ocean.
~
And yet this, the most splendid victory of
modern or ancient times, was won by hand
full of Texas pioneers over a we'll disciplined
army double their number and commanded
by skillful general. The massacer of Col.
TRAyERs and his devoted band at the Alamo
had fired the Texans to desperation. When
SANTA ANNA, flushed with his ill-gotten sue
cess and believing that Texas was within his
grasp, advanced upon HOUSTON'S small force
on the Colorado river the latter began a re-
treat. 1t was HouSTONS intention to fall
back to Nacodoches, where he expected re-
Inducements. But the determined men
whom he commanded, and tho were yearning
with anxiety to retaliate for the shameful
butchery of their friends at the Alamo, were
so loud In their complaints that when HoUS-
TON reached the San Jacinto he made up his
mind to stake his reputation and the fate of
Texas on battle.
~
The battle of San .acinto commenced
about an hour before sunset. Gen. HOUSTON
had 1S3 men all told, while SANTA ANNA was
in command of over 1,500 of the flower of the
Mexican army. HOUSTON took the aggres-
sive and advanced his army to the attack with
the war cry, 'Remember the Alamo" He
ordered his men to reserve their fire until
they were close enough to see the whites of
the Mexicans' eyes. The battle was short
and sanguinary. Before the shades of night
had fallen the Mexican army lay bleeding on
the battle plain and SANTA ANNA was
prisoner in the hands of the Texans.
~
Lieut.. HEM and his nautical wife both of
Galatea fame, have been on picnic cruise
in Southern waters. They have been sailing
on Florida and Georgia rivers and having lots
of fun. Mrs. HEM is as fond of adventure
as her husband. During their Southern
cruise they have been living in almost alb
original simplicity, camping out on the ver-
dure-covered banks of the Southern rivers
and doing their own cooking and washing.
Fishing and coon hunting was their principal
sport and they returned to New York the
other day with live coon which Mrs. HEM
captured in Florida jungle.
~
The MEAD trial is over and the only moral
to be drawn from its conclusion is that it is
worth a mans life to spit in another mans
face. People who are in the habit of expec-
torating will be careful hereafter ii what d.
rection they eject their SALIVA.
~
1t is said that Mr. GLADSTONE was once
asked his opinion as to what was the best
work of English fiction and promptly re-
piled ''MAGAuLAY's History of England" 1t
is evident that Mr.. GLADSTONE had not at
that time read Gen. ADAM BADEAU's War
"reminiscences. BADEAU seems to have
made successful study of finding out i'm
probable things and then writing them I'D as
war "reminiscences.
*x*
Senator VESTS statement concerning that
CLEVELAND interview is in the nature of what
lawyers call a plea of confession and
avoidance. He admits his responsibility but
denies the cupability. Senator VEST is no
spring chicken and is Old enough to know
how to talk in company. If he hadn't wanted
his statement to be perverted, he ought'nt to
have made it i'll the presence of Mr.. CLEvE-
LANDS enemies. Sifted down to the bottom
facts all that is left of this matter is that
vest anti-CLEvELAND gun missed fire.